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The Ariel Helwani Show

The Ariel Helwani Show

729 episodes — Page 7 of 15

Ep 429Kayla Harrison Out, What Now? No Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler at White House? | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back bring you another stacked show, starting with reaction to the arrest warrant issued for Gervonta Davis (02:52) and Dana White's recent comments about the White House card (05:12).Ariel Helwani joins, giving his own thoughts on the latest from White and discussing Kayla Harrison's withdrawal from UFC 324, as well as the numerous names volunteering to fight Amanda Nunes as a result (17:05).The Boys cover other news, including Paddy Pimblett calling Arman Tsraukyan's grappling overrated, Sean O'Malley reacting to sliding into the UFC 324 co-main event slot, Khalil Rountree Jr. calling for a Jiri Prochazka rematch, and more (48:17).After looking at some UFC championship futures (1:05:50), The Boys deliver their P4P heartbreaking cancellations (1:28:19), listen to your voicemails (1:49:38), and answer your Super Chats (2:17:25).

Jan 15, 20262h 24m

Ep 428Daniel Cormier reunion! Israel Adesanya & Kayla Harrison breaking news, Joe Pyfer, Anthony Hernandez, Chuck Mindenhall, On The Nose

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering questions related to Dana White’s announcement of Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer, Kayla Harrison being out of her UFC 324 bout against Amanda Nunes, Meta getting naming rights to the APEX, and more (04:23).Joe Pyfer is back to discuss the massive opportunity against Adesanya, being the betting favorite, how the fight got made, his respect for Adesanya, training his grappling with Nicky Rod, and more (1:06:12).Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez returns to preview his UFC Houston main event against Sean Strickland, then talks about his post-MMA plans, expecting a bloody fight from Strickland, not being bothered by trash talk, feeling like he doesn’t get special treatment from the UFC, and more (1:35:25).Old friend Daniel Cormier finally reunites with Ariel to celebrate a few holidays, discuss UFC’s move to Paramount, Harrison being forced out of the Nunes fight, Gable Steveson’s potential to be UFC champion, Jon Jones coaching Steveson, coaching opposite Jones on their reality show, his continued rivalry with Jones, potentially wrestling Jones, and more (2:19:57).Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall, die-hard Denver Broncos fan, joins the show to talk trash to Ariel about his Buffalo Bills before their teams meet in the NFL playoffs (3:10:24).Ariel wraps up the show with your Super Chats (3:45:59).

Jan 14, 20264h 9m

Ep 427Dakota Ditcheva, Mauricio Ruffy, Charles Johnson, Ade Oladipo, news and notes, more

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to yesterday’s Arman Tsarukyan pizza party, Dana White’s upcoming announcement, PFL revealing the main event for its Pittsburgh show, Moses Itauma’s next fight being postponed, and more (04:47).Dakota Ditcheva is back on the show, detailing the hand injury that forced her to withdraw from PFL’s February event, breaking down the fight between former ATT teammates Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison, weighing in on Valentina Shevchenko’s continued success, and responding to Cris Cyborg’s callout (34:50).Charles Johnson returns to preview his upcoming fight against Alex Perez, talk about his win over Joshua Van and his feelings on Van as UFC flyweight champion, seeing himself as more than just a prospect killer, what impact the Paramount partnership could have on promotional efforts, his track and field history, and more (1:05:11).Ariel reunites with old friend and co-host Ade Oladipo to react to the buzz surrounding big wins by Agit Kabayel and Dalton Smith, the announcement of Moses Itauma’s fight being delayed, Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia being made official, David Benavidez going up to challenge Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, Zuffa Boxing’s debut show, KSI’s retirement from boxing, and more (1:30:15).Mauricio Ruffy is our final guest of the day, discussing his recent team-up with Alexander Volkanovski, suffering defeat to Benoit Saint-Denis and how he plans to bounce back, his highlight-reel knockout of King Green, preparing to face Rafael Fiziev, and more (2:04:55).Ariel closes the show with more news and notes, before answering your Super Chats (2:25:33).

Jan 13, 20263h 6m

Ep 426Arman Tsarukyan in studio, Alexander Volkanovski, Bo Nickal, Ed Soares, massive weekend recap

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with reaction to Real American Freestyle’s fifth event, headlined by Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold, and Dana White’s recent media tour (06:08).Bo Nickal, who was scheduled to compete against Yoel Romero at RAF05, joins next to discuss the event, Romero missing weight, trash talk from Covington and Rockhold, wanting to fight Covington in MMA and end his career, potentially competing on the White House card, and more (58:41).LFA CEO Ed Soares is back to detail the promotion’s new broadcast deal with VICE TV, explain why they didn’t come to an agreement with UFC Fight Pass, the promotion’s plans for 2026 and beyond, considering LFA the No. 2 promotion in the world, and more (1:20:01).UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski returns to talk about Diego Lopes getting the title shot over Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, where the conversation about his retirement came from, whether he’d ever want to challenge for the lightweight belt again, being able to really showcase his personality in recent years, and more (1:45:30).Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan joins Ariel in-studio to discuss his potential next fight, hoping Paddy Pimblett loses against Justin Gaethje, his rise as a content creator, before being surprised with a massive assortment of pizza (2:07:41).Ariel ends the show by covering some news and notes, including Khamzat Chimaev calling for a light heavyweight title shot, Alex Pereira’s split from Tracy Cortez, Paramount’s new pricing, Kamaru Usman’s captured conversation with Anthony Joshua, and more (3:32:19).Plus, the answers to your Super Chats (3:55:16).

Jan 12, 20264h 18m

Ep 425Ilia Topuria's fighting future, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier renew rivalry, more | The Craic

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The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll kicks off the new year alongside Uncrowned’s finest, Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al-Shatti.First up, they discuss how concerned we should be about Ilia Topuria’s fighting future following the UFC lightweight champ’s recent court proceedings (5:20).Another UFC lightweight with no title-fight news is Arman Tsarukyan. The trio react to Dana White’s interview with Robbie Fox, where he shed light on why (17:30).The 155-pound division continues to make headlines, this time with title contenders Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker clashing in a social media war of words. The lads break it down (28:31).From one feud to another, Petesy and the boys dissect the latest developments in the Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier rivalry (48:45).Finally, the guys highlight their biggest stories to watch in 2026 (55:54), and answer your Super Chats (1:16:18).

Jan 9, 20261h 18m

Ep 424Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier's budding friendship? First Annual Backie Awards, more | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back return to react to recent news, including PFL's former CEO departing, UFC Houston fight announcements, and LFA's new broadcast home (03:21).Next, they cover the unexpected talk of friendship between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, before discussing some of the other biggest rivalries in MMA history (13:06).Plus, the Boys debut the first annual Backie Awards (44:36), listen to your voicemails (1:19:14), and answer your Super Chats (1:56:23).

Jan 8, 20262h 4m

Ep 4232026 MMA Prediction Show: Will Ilia Topuria fight? Do Jon Jones and Conor McGregor return?

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Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to review their predictions from last year, then forecast the MMA landscape for 2026.After giving their Must-See Fights (10:53), Breakout Fighters (45:39), Stories To Watch (58:58), and Male and Female Fighters (1:21:27), the crew predicts how many new UFC champions will be crowned (1:33:50), play a round of True or False (1:41:16), and each make one bold prediction (1:58:49).The show closes with a debate about the Michael Morales record controversy (2:16:21), Super Chats (2:53:43), and some other news and notes (3:05:02).

Jan 7, 20263h 14m

Ep 422The 2nd Annual Ariel x Ade Boxing Awards, plus a supersized On The Nose segment

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Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo reunite to roll out our second annual boxing awards spectacular, but first, they honor Anthony Joshua's close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele (07:32).The duo hands out hardware in 20 categories, including Fight of the Year (18:26), Knockout of the Year (23:12), Trainer of the Year (1:09:08), Promoter of the Year (1:16:24) Moment of the Year (1:41:49), Female Fighter of the Year (1:53:52), Male Fighter of the Year (1:59:21), and many more.After saying goodbye to Ade, Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll for a supersized edition of On The Nose, with topics including Rico Verhoeven's next move (2:22:15), Adam Sandler vs. Will Ferrell (2:37:39), speculation about Justin Gaethje's status for UFC 324 (2:44:52), sportswashing and the state of modern journalism (3:03:21), Conor McGregor calling for a fight against Floyd Mayweather (3:17:50), Sean O'Malley setting a timeline for retirement (3:49:27), and more.Finally, Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (4:02:36).

Jan 6, 20264h 9m

Ep 421The 13th Annual Helwani Nose Awards: 2025 Edition

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Ariel Helwani, The Boys in the Back, and Petesy Carroll ring in 2026 with the long-awaited, never-duplicated 13th Annual Helwani Nose Awards.Before getting into the categories, the show pays tribute to MMA media member Abbey Subhan and Anthony Joshua team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele (08:28), then looks back at some of the moments we missed over the break (21:23).The gang jumps into the most comprehensive awards in sports, with categories including Performance of the Year (36:00), Fight of the Year (39:51), Knockout of the Year (52:19), Rivalry of the Year (1:33:33), Story of the Year (3:11:24), Female Fighter of the Year (3:25:18), Male Fighter of the Year (3:33:56), and many more.Finally, Ariel reacts to some breaking news about Jon Jones and rival Daniel Cormier (3:44:51) and answers your Super Chats (3:51:03).

Jan 5, 20264h 7m

Ep 420Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua aftermath, Eddie Hearn, Nakisa Bidarian, Andrei Arlovski, Harley Cameron in studio, weekend recap, news & notes

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Ariel Helwani starts the final live show of 2025 with a recap and reaction to Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the big winners and losers, before The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join him to further break down the aftermath and forecast what’s next for both Paul and Joshua (04:07).Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn is back to provide his perspective on Joshua’s knockout of Paul, Paul’s game plan and toughness, Joshua’s rising star power, potential bouts for Joshua against Tyson Fury and Rico Verhoeven, Katie Taylor’s next fight, the brewing Zuffa Boxing rivalry, and more (1:04:01).Andrei Arlovski returns to the show to give details about his run-in with streamer Jack Doherty, including who was involved, how the whole thing kicked off, his reaction to Doherty’s comments after the fact, and more. Plus, he previews his upcoming BKFC heavyweight title bout against Ben Rothwell and gives thoughts on the Paul vs. Joshua fight (1:42:49).Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian provides an update on Jake Paul’s health after being knocked out by Anthony Joshua, and discusses Paul’s next move, how the loss impacts Paul’s stock, the main event purses, accusations of fight fixing, Netflix’s reaction to the event, and more (2:08:27).One-half of the AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions, Harley Cameron, joins Ariel in-studio to talk about her ascent in 2025, her early life and knowing she wanted to be an entertainer, WWE facilitating her early wrestling training, the AEW locker room, working with Mercedes Moné, before showcasing her ventriloquism skills (2:35:17).Ariel touches on a few news items, including Andrew Tate falling short in his Misfits debut against Chase DeMoor, and answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (3:32:56).

Dec 22, 20254h 26m

Ep 419Live From Miami! Feat. Jorge Masvidal & Kayla Harrison | The Ariel Helwani Show

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The Ariel Helwani Show is live from Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Miami!After welcoming in the capacity crowd (00:30), Ariel is joined on stage by UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison (07:50) to discuss her upcoming fight against Amanda Nunes and more.The King of Miami, Jorge Masvidal, joins Ariel and ATT teammate Harrison on stage (29:05) to talk about the gym's dynamics, break down Harrison vs. Nunes, and tease his own 2026 comeback.Ariel wraps up the show by answering questions from the crowd (56:55).

Dec 19, 20251h 31m

Ep 418Tom Aspinall hits back, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua arrives, Merab x Zuck | The Craic

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For the final Craic of 2025, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall to round out the combat sports year.They open by previewing this weekend’s crossover fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua on Netflix (04:38).Shifting back to MMA, the duo discuss Tom “Bully” Aspinall’s message to Ciryl Gane and how the buildup to their rematch is shaping up compared to the first meeting (28:45).Then it’s over to the PFL, where news of Movlid Khaybulaev’s positive drug tests has caused ripples. The guys react to what it means for the PFL titleholder (41:35).Finally, Petesy and Chuck react to the latest Mark Zuckerberg MMA training footage, this time alongside Merab Dvalishvili (49:30).To close out the show and the year, they answer your Super Chats (55:00).

Dec 18, 20251h 1m

Ep 417Chael Sonnen, Holly Holm, Sam Alvey, Skye Nicolson, On The Nose, more

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll, answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Francis Ngannou’s free agency, booking fighters on the show, corporate jargon, The Beatles, and more (11:29).‘The Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen is back to discuss John Cena’s retirement match, Ilia Topuria stepping away and the UFC lightweight title implications, Alex Pereira saying he won’t be on the White House card, Dana White’s claims about Francis Ngannou putting hands on him, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, memories from the UFC on ESPN era, and more (1:04:51).Holly Holm returns ahead of her title bout against Stephanie Han in January to talk about her boxing career, her interest in a Ronda Rousey rematch, how a fight between Rousey and Katie Taylor would go, her own potential Taylor fight, the story behind her celebratory backflip, and more (2:02:36).Skye Nicolson joins following her win over Yulihan Luna to capture interim WBC super bantamweight gold, discussing how she’s adapted to the new weight class, her 2026 plan, including a quest to become undisputed, Devin Haney’s criticism of her and apology, Jake Paul being in danger against Anthony Joshua, how Ronda Rousey would fare in the ring, and more (2:34:57).Sam Alvey is our final guest of the day, looking back at his loss to Robelis Despaigne at Karate Combat 58, talk about the event being delayed and how it impacted his preparation, being content with the referee’s stoppage, his feelings about Karate Combat as a promotion, how long he plans to continue fighting, and more (3:03:11).Ariel closes with show with your Super Chats (3:22:36).

Dec 16, 20253h 50m

Ep 416Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou reignited, John Cena retirement match botched, massive weekend recap, Shakur Stevenson, Tyson Pedro, Kevin Vallejos, Patrick Habirora

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Ariel Helwani brings in The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to react to the final UFC event of the year, starting with a review of Manel Kape’s big win and whether it was enough to earn a title shot, before moving on to the best moments from the now-over ESPN era, Francis Ngannou’s interview from last week and Dana White readdressing their interaction, and John Cena’s retirement match (12:16).Rising UFC star Kevin Vallejos makes his show debut, discussing his knockout of Giga Chikadze, being awarded a performance bonus for his spinning backfist, intending to donate to Chikadze’s charity, his callout of Cub Swanson, and more (1:36:50).Patrick Habirora joins on the heels of his win at PFL Lyon, talking about his training with Georges St-Pierre, his love of anime, his soccer background, seeking the toughest challenges, his knockouts of former UFC fighters, wanting to fight Kevin Lee next, feeling ready to take over if Usman Nurmagomedov leaves the PFL, and more (2:02:51).Tyson Pedro returns with some big news, announcing his signing with PFL, then discusses his boxing run, his listed nickname being changed to “Kangaroo Paws,” James Te Huna being a mentor of his, being named after Mike Tyson, and more (2:28:00).Shakur Stevenson is back to talk about his upcoming fight against Teofimo Lopez, claiming Lopez is not really from New York, describing his respect for Lopez from their time on the amateur scene, his plans to make Lopez pay for his words, working with Eddie Hearn, how a potential fight with Conor Benn would go, his training with Jake Paul, and more (3:06:55).Ariel briefly responds to Jamahal Hill and answers your Super Chats (3:32:54).

Dec 15, 20254h 8m

Ep 415Dana White & Francis Ngannou's fractured relationship, Ngannou's next move, more | The Craic

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The Craic is back! As usual, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben “Big Time” Fowlkes.This week’s biggest story is the escalating back-and-forth between Dana White and Francis Ngannou. The crew breaks down their interviews and what the exchange really means (5:05).Next up, the lads tackle whether Merab Dvalishvili still deserves Fighter Of The Year after his loss to Petr Yan, and who might take the spot instead (38:48).Another end-of-year competition comes to a close with the Uncrowned MMA picks, and Ben Fowlkes addresses his disappointing bottom-of-the-table finish (49:21).Finally, Petesy and the guys preview UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (53:21) and answer your Super Chats (1:09:30).

Dec 12, 20251h 13m

Ep 414Too many new UFC champs? UFC Vegas 112 & PFL Lyon previews, P4P finales, more

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The Boys in the Back submit their final show of the year, starting with some news and notes, including Kron Gracie being forced out of his VFL fight (02:49) and Islam Makhachev defending a potential Kamaru Usman title shot (04:04).After a conversation about the massive amount of turnover for UFC champions in 2025 (22:42), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 112 (41:18) and PFL Lyon (1:14:39), before touching on John Cena's retirement match (1:25:45) and making picks (1:35:53).The Boys deliver their P4P lists of finales (1:40:48), then answer your voicemails (2:05:22) and Super Chats (3:00:47).

Dec 11, 20253h 8m

Ep 413Francis Ngannou, Tatsuro Taira, Jalin Turner, Chris Duncan, On The Nose, more

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Ariel Helwani begins the show by reviewing the latest war of words between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili after it first appeared they'd buried the hatchet (02:19).Francis Ngannou returns to talk about being approached to fight Jake Paul, his prediction for Paul’s fight against Anthony Joshua, his relationship and contract status with PFL, who he might fight next, Ciryl Gane’s eye-poke on Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira’s chances against Jon Jones, and address Dana White’s claim that Ngannou put hands on him (16:50).Ariel hits some news and notes and answers a few questions (1:02:28), before welcoming Chris Duncan back to the show to discuss his thrilling UFC 323 win, feeling that Terrance McKinney fights scared, sacrifices he’s making to become a champion, Donald Cerrone being his favorite fighter, and more (1:30:16).Jalin Turner joins on the heels of his first-round finish of Edson Barboza to talk about sharing the cage with a legend, overcoming mental hurdles and personal tragedy to make it back to the UFC, plans in motion for a massive 2026, and more (2:03:59).Ariel answers On The Nose questions about champions of years past facing modern stars, timing for UFC’s White House card, and more (2:25:22).Tatsuro Taira stops by to recap his big win over Brandon Moreno, witnessing the injury to Alexandre Pantoja from cageside, believing he will fight champion Joshua Van next, being willing to fight Van anywhere but hoping for Japan, and more (2:58:31).Ariel does another round of On The Nose questions, before answering Super Chats to end the show (3:29:23).

Dec 10, 20253h 55m

Ep 412Kron Gracie in studio, Maycee Barber, Caroline Dubois, Mansur Abdul-Malik, On The Nose

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Ariel Helwani starts the show with On The Nose, touching on the heated back-and-forth between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jamahal Hill, why MMA retirements don’t stick, how Paramount will recoup its UFC investment and how that impacts fighter pay, and more (11:24).Maycee Barber is back to break down her UFC 323 win over Karine Silva, discussing her health heading into the fight, the illegal upkicks she received, chasing a title shot, wanting to rematch Alexa Grasso, not being impressed by Valentina Shevchenko’s performance against Zhang Weili, and more (1:03:51).Mansur Abdul-Malik brings his infectious energy to the show, talking about his first-round submission of Antonio Trocoli at UFC 323, how his MMA journey started, being inspired by Rory MacDonald, why he’s so intense while preparing for fights, honoring his father and realizing his dreams, and more (1:28:16).Kron Gracie joins Ariel in-studio to reflect on his UFC career, talk about his departure from the promotion, fan reaction to him pulling guard, training with Gilbert Melendez, growing up with Rickson as a father, his unique training techniques, his perspective on earning jiu-jitsu black belts, and more (2:04:45).WBC women’s lightweight champion Caroline Dubois is our final guest of the day, discussing her signing with Most Valuable Promotions, leaving Boxxer, fighting on the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua card, wanting to fight Alycia Baumgardner, and more (3:10:40).Ariel answers more On The Nose questions and Super Chats to close the show (3:34:31).

Dec 9, 20254h 6m

Ep 411Massive UFC 323 reaction, Champ Joshua Van, Payton Talbott, John Wood, Dr. Brian Sutterer on Alexandre Pantoja’s freak injury, weekend news & notes

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with his reaction to UFC 323, including the excellence of Petr Yan in his upset win over Merab Dvalishvili, Joshua Van becoming the second-youngest champion in UFC history, Henry Cejudo’s retirement, and more (02:38).Dr. Brian Sutterer MD joins to discuss Alexandre Pantoja’s elbow injury, UFC initially suggesting it was a shoulder injury, the timetable for Pantoja’s return, MMA’s overall injury risks, Tom Aspinall’s eye injury and continued complications, and more (45:08).Ariel reacts to Dana White’s recent comments about Aspinall, and the latest updates about the White House card (59:35).Joshua Van joins on the heels of his UFC 323 victory over Pantoja to talk about becoming the second-youngest champion in promotional history, his view of Pantoja’s injury, wanting to rematch Pantoja, bringing the belt to his father’s grave, potentially fighting Tatsuro Taira, his response to those criticizing his celebration, and more (1:16:43).Coach John Wood returns to break down Merab’s performance at UFC 323, including Merab’s preparation, whether Merab relied too much on his striking, telling Merab he was ahead in the fight between rounds, plus, a check-in on Gina Carano as she returns to training, and more (1:34:57).Payton Tablott is back after the biggest win of his career to discuss Henry Cejudo’s game plan for UFC 323, their past training sessions and respect, who he wants to fight next, Merab’s performance, his wild interaction with Adin Ross, Winged C’s tattoo claims, and more (2:02:12).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to cover some news and notes, including Dana White weighing in on Terence Crawford being stripped of his WBC belt and Arman Tsarukyan’s path back to the title, UFC announcing some new fights including Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira, Conor McGregor’s linkup with Mike Tyson, and more (2:31:42).Ariel answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (3:50:27).

Dec 9, 20254h 12m

Ep 410UFC 323 Post-Fight Show: Petr Yan stuns Merab Dvalishvili, Joshua Van wins after freak injury to Alexandre Pantoja

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Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall to react to UFC 323, starting with Petr Yan's stunning upset of Merab Dvalishvili (01:48).Next, they discuss the co-main event, which saw Joshua Van become the second-youngest champion in UFC history due to Alexandre Pantoja suffering an arm injury early in the fight (26:20).After touching on the performances of Tatsuro Taira (43:50), Payton Talbott (47:12) and Jan Blachowicz (56:13), 3PAC recaps the night's prelims (58:48).The show concludes with a review of some newly announced fights for UFC 325 (1:04:22) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:11:28).

Dec 7, 20251h 15m

Ep 409UFC 323 Preview: Merab's historic year, PPV era ends, Conor McGregor legal updates | The Craic

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The Craic is back to kick off the festive season.With Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunited, they open the show by giving their take on the recent UFC on Paramount fight card announcements (4:21).Then, the lads get into this weekend’s fights at UFC 323 and debate whether a win over Petr Yan would cement Merab Dvalishvili as fighter of the year (17:03).The flyweight division is also host to some big matchups. The trio break down former champ Henry Cejudo taking on rising prospect Payton Talbott (42:30), and the co-main event barnburner between champ Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van (47:25).The guys give updates on TKO’s attempt to push the Ali Revival Act through Congress (49:08).To close out the show, the crew provide updates on Conor McGregor’s legal cases (1:02:09), make their picks for this weekend’s fights (1:04:26), and answer your Super Chats (1:10:15).

Dec 5, 20251h 13m

Ep 408Combat sports gone crazy, UFC 323 preview, Ali Revival Act hearing, more | The Boys in the Back

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After a week away, The Boys in the Back return to preview UFC 323, but first, they discuss the TKO-backed Ali Revival Act (02:43) and some of the wild announcements and rumored bookings across the combat sports landscape (13:53).They quickly touch on UFC's new meal plan (33:20), before previewing UFC 323 from top to bottom (39:20) and making picks (1:27:36).Finally, they deliver their P4P Vans (1:38:55), listen to your voicemails (1:53:47) and answer your Super Chats (2:38:40).

Dec 4, 20252h 49m

Ep 407Malcolm Wellmaker, Bill Haney, TNA President Carlos Silva, Abdullah Mason, Chris Bungard in studio, Terence Crawford stripped?!

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to Terence Crawford being stripped of the WBC super middleweight title, Mike Tyson’s support for the Ali Revival Act, Oleksandr Usyk’s feelings on Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, and more (03:07).TNA President Carlos Silva joins to talk about the promotion’s new broadcast deal with AMC, how the deal came to be, plans for 2026, TNA’s relationship with WWE, Joe Hendry joining WWE, and more (17:44).Bill Haney is back to discuss his son, including his review of Devin’s last performance, their relationship with Eddie Hearn, potential next fights against the likes of Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn, and Rolly Romero, his stance on the Ali Revival Act, and more (47:38).Chris Bungard joins Ariel in-studio to talk about his run with Cage Warriors, being a free agent with several offers on the table, the origin of his ‘Bad Guy’ nickname, some of his thrilling walkouts, including a Bray Wyatt tribute, his love of Bret Hart and pro wrestling, wanting to fight Dillon Danis, hanging out with comedians Shane Gillis and Theo Von, and more (1:18:06).Malcolm Wellmaker returns on the heels of his UFC 322 defeat to talk about accepting the fight on short-notice, what he knew about Ethyn Ewing heading into the fight, being devastated by the loss, technical mistakes he made, when he plans to get back in the cage, and more (2:15:28).Abdullah Mason, the youngest active male champion in boxing, makes his show debut to discuss his win over Sam Noakes, his feelings on Keyshawn Davis and lessons learned, having the support of Cleveland behind him, how he got his start in boxing, and more (2:45:44).Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to cover some news and notes, including Colby Covington vs. Luke Rockhold being announced for Real American Freestyle, Henry Cejudo saying UFC 323 will be his retirement, the future of UFC on Paramount, Terence Crawford’s strong response to the WBC stripping him, before wrapping up with your Super Chats (3:08:04).

Dec 3, 20254h 5m

Ep 406Tom Aspinall first interview since UFC 321, Sean O’Malley, Arnold Allen, On The Nose

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC 324 main event, Ronda Rousey’s comeback, how to convert casual fans, and more (05:14).Tom Aspinall returns for his first interview since UFC 321, responding to critics who believe was looking for a way out, discussing what he learned from the experience, his behind-the-scenes exchange with Daniel Cormier, comments about switching to boxing made by his father Andy, Ciryl Gane being a tough matchup, Dana White’s reaction after the fight, Jon Jones’ barbs, his potential timeline for return, and more (1:01:28).Sean O’Malley joins next to preview his fight against Song Yadong at UFC 324, talk about how he landed on Song as an opponent, the card order for UFC 324, Ilia Topuria being out to start the year, the footage of his sparring with Alexandre Pantoja, and more (1:59:32).Arnold Allen returns to discuss the shoulder injury that kept him out of action since 2024, his upcoming fight against Jean Silva, being offered the short-notice Aaron Pico fight, Diego Lopes getting the title shot over Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, the fan reaction to Tom Aspinall’s recent videos, his viral joke about being jumped in Montreal for not speaking French, and more (2:31:10).Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (3:06:47).

Dec 2, 20253h 41m

Ep 405Kayla Harrison, Tony Ferguson, Lerone Murphy, Joshua Van, Lamont Roach in studio, massive weekend recap, more

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Ariel Helwani begins the show by recapping the massive UFC 324 and UFC 325 announcements, including reaction from fighters involved in the fights or fighters passed up for title opportunities (05:25).Joshua Van stops by during UFC 323 fight week to preview his matchup with Alexandre Pantoja, talk about his calmness before the storm and his longer-than-average layoff, react to Kyoji Horiguchi’s return and callout, and more (26:21).WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach joins Ariel in-studio ahead of his super lightweight scrap with Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz to discuss his rivalry with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and a potential rematch, appealing the result of their first fight, whether he believes Davis is retired, his perspective on the Ali Revival Act, and more (46:40).Ariel addresses recent comments by Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejduo (1:16:50), before reuniting with old friend Tony Ferguson, who reflects on his win over Salt Papi in August, previews his return against Warren Spencer in December, discusses his relationship with Dillon Danis, his views on UFC’s recent matchmaking, planning to fight MMA again, his prediction for Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje, and more (1:34:55).Lerone Murphy is back to react to the announcement of Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2, express his disappointment with not getting the title shot and potentially missing out on fighting Volkanovski before he retires, answer the callouts of Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling, give his prediction for the Volkanovski-Lopes rematch, and more (2:04:16).UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison returns to break down her highly-anticipated fight against Amanda Nunes, reveal a bit about their time as training partners, react to Ronda Rousey’s rumored comeback and potential boxing match with Katie Taylor, respond to Valentina Shevchenko’s callout, and more (2:26:04).Ariel and The Boys in the Back wrap up with some news and notes, including the latest on Tom Aspinall’s eye, and answer your Super Chats (3:08:30).

Dec 1, 20254h 8m

Ep 404BREAKING: Dana White announces HUGE UFC 324 and UFC 325 cards on Paramount, plus Ilia Topuria news; Ariel Helwani reacts

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Ariel Helwani give his immediate reaction to Dana White's major announcement during halftime of Chiefs-Cowboys on CBS (01:05).Ariel addresses a statement by UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria about his future (02:38), before running down all the UFC 324 matchups announced by White (04:03) and the new main card start time (06:10).Then, he tackles the UFC 325 announcements (07:46), before giving his final thoughts on both cards (08:58).

Nov 28, 202523 min

Ep 403Vince Russo, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Alfie Davis, Winged C, McGregor x Khabib rivalry renewed, On The Nose, more

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the final show before Thanksgiving by acknowledging the Uncrowned team, before answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Khabib Nurmagomedov’s NFT launch, Conor McGregor and Khabib’s war of words over the NFTs, Ilia Topuria’s inactivity, Ian Machado Garry’s brash personality, and more (33:39).Wrestling legend Vince Russo stops by to promote his upcoming engagement with Juggalo Championship Wrestling, assess the current wrestling landscape for WWE, AEW, TNA and others, and tell stories from the glory days, including memories of his partnership with Vince McMahon, his beef with Eric Bischoff, and more (1:01:35).Waldo Cortes-Acosta looks back at his big win over Shamil Gaziev at UFC Qatar, including how the short-notice opportunity came about. He also touches on being the father to nine children, being fully healed after the eye-poke in his knockout win against Ante Delija, wanting to fight Curtis Blaydes or Derrick Lewis, his baseball career, and more (2:05:11).2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament Champion Aflie Davis makes his show debut, talking about how close he came to retiring before realizing his MMA dreams, his upcoming matchup with Usman Nurmagomedov, his rise through the kickboxing ranks, his friends’ viral tattoo, and more (2:33:54).Internet sensation Winged C joins the show, explaining his origins, his name, his tattoos, his love of anime, emoting, how he got onto the APFC MMA card, overcoming defeat after having his win streak snapped, his relationships with Demetrious Johnson and Death Sentence, and more (3:00:19).Ariel and The Boys return to answer more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (4:01:26).

Nov 26, 20254h 9m

Ep 402Shavkat Rakhmonov, Arman Tsarukyan returns!, Carlos Prates, Renato Moicano, Devin Haney, Ben Whittaker, more

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Ariel Helwani begins the show by speaking to UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who discusses the difficulty of returning from a knee injury that required surgery, going into the Ian Machado Garry bout injured, being cleared to return early next year, being willing to fight again to prove he’s the No. 1 contender, believing he’s the hardest matchup for Islam Makhachev, and more (06:24).Devin Haney returns, talking about his big win over Brian Norman Jr., shutting up his critics, Eddie Hearn’s comments after the fight, feeling Conor Benn is not on his level, being willing to fight anybody, and more (37:13).Ben Whittaker reflects on his win over Liam Cameron in April, before previewing his fight against Benjamin Gavazi and discussing his decision to sign with Matchroom, wanting to fight in America in 2026, his prediction for a potential fight between Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez, Jake Paul choosing to fight Anthony Joshua, and more (1:03:01).Carlos Prates is next, detailing his experience in New York for UFC 322, what he was thinking during the viral photo of Leon Edwards on his back, his bow and arrow celebration aimed at Alex Pereira, his reaction to the main event between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, his desire to fight for the title next, his argument for Kamaru Usman as the welterweight GOAT, and more (1:28:12).Renato Moicano returns, talking about his new Portuguese-language YouTube channel, Dan Hooker’s callout, why he believes UFC will not make the Hooker fight, his reaction to Benoit Saint Denis’ win against Beneil Dariush and his recent resurgence, the price of Bitcoin dropping, and more (2:12:30).Arman Tsarukyan stops by after yesterday’s abrupt ending, quickly discussing the run-in between Khamzat Chimaev and Ian Machado Garry, responding to Ilia Topuria omitting Tsarukyan from a list of potential opponents, and more (2:34:21).Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to react to Jon Jones’ visit to Chechnya, including interactions with Khamzat Chimaev and Ramzan Kadyrov, before wrapping up with your Super Chats (2:42:03).

Nov 25, 20253h 34m

Ep 401Arman Tsarukyan, Ian Machado Garry, Tyron Woodley, Nakisa Bidarian, UFC Qatar & massive weekend reaction

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Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Qatar, including a debate with The Boys in the Back about whether Arman Tsarukyan and Ian Machado Garry should be next for the respective champions of their divisions (04:30).Garry then joins the show to break down his win over Belal Muhammad, discussing his takedown defense, the controversial eye-poke, whether he’s done enough to earn a title shot, Shavkat Rakhmonov or Kamaru Usman as potential challengers, his viral run-in with Khamzat Chimaev, and more (42:30).Tsarukyan is next, breaking down his own big win against Dan Hooker, talking about his desire to finish the fight, head-butting Hooker at the weigh-ins, his respect for Hooker, having his father at the fight, Paddy Pimblett potentially jumping him in line, his expensive taste, his run-in with Ilia Topuria and their brewing beef, and more (1:06:47).Most Valuable Promotions founder and CEO Nakisa Bidarian is back to discuss Jake Paul’s upcoming fight against Anthony Joshua, starting with the decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the original matchup, how the Joshua fight came together, and other potential names discussed, including Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, and Terence Crawford. He also touches on how much Joshua stands to make, the risk being taken by Paul, critics of Paul suggesting his fights are fixed, Dana White’s comments about the fight and Ngannou (1:37:50).Ariel and The Boys give their Jake vs. Joshua press conference thoughts and react to some scenes from UFC Qatar, including a few fantastic impressions (2:13:24).Tyron Woodley returns to preview his boxing match against Anderson Silva, explaining how the fight came together, responding to Darren Till’s comments about the fight, reacting to the Jake vs. Joshua fight, and more (2:53:33).The show closes with mention of Rico Verhoeven’s retirement from kickboxing and his potential next move, PFL’s announcements for its first show of 2026, including Dakota Ditcheva taking on Denise Kielholtz, Yaroslav Amosov joining the UFC, and your Super Chats (3:29:44).

Nov 24, 20253h 52m

Ep 400UFC Qatar Post-Fight Show: Arman steamrolls Hooker, Garry dominates Belal; full card reaction

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Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC Qatar, kicking things off with Arman Tsarukyan’s second-round submission of Dan Hooker (5:00).Next, the guys debate whether Ian Machado Garry’s decision win over Belal Muhammad in the co-main event is enough to earn him a title shot against pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev, and map out the rest of the welterweight division (22:45).Ariel and the guys then turn their attention to the rest of the card, highlighting the standout performances that caught their eye (42:30).A separate storyline emerged backstage, where Garry and Khamzat Chimaev were involved in a physical altercation.To wrap up the show, the trio break down the footage and what led to the clash (57:23).

Nov 22, 20251h 5m

Ep 399Arman Tsarukyan headbutts Dan Hooker?! Who's next for Ilia Topuria? Jake-Joshua presser reaction | The Craic

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The Craic returns with its usual trifecta: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are back to get you ready for the weekend in combat sports. To kick off the show, the guys break down UFC Qatar’s main event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (1:21).They also dig into the co-main event: Ian Machado Garry vs. Belal Muhammad, and discuss the stakes for the welterweight division, including what Garry would need to do to earn a title shot with a win (24:24).To wrap up their UFC Qatar discussion, the trio spotlight their favorite matchups on the rest of the card (35:23).Fresh off their first press conference, the chaps weigh in on the striking size disparity between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua after their faceoff (41:33).To close the show, the crew react to Rico Verhoeven vacating the GLORY Kickboxing heavyweight championship, and talk the latest PFL news (55:45).

Nov 21, 20251h 12m

Ep 398Kamaru Usman can't be next for Islam Makhachev, can he? Belal Muhammad's wild comments, UFC Qatar preview | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back kick off the show with news and notes, including a UFC Qatar shakeup (01:22), Ryan Garcia's next fight (02:55), and a wild media day comment by Belal Muhammad (05:18).Then, they breakdown the welterweight title picture and the recent momentum behind Kamaru Usman (13:41), before previewing UFC Qatar top to bottom (23:00).Finally, The Boys make picks (1:14:07), deliver their P4P worst P4P lists by Mysterious Frank (1:16:37), and listen to your voicemails (1:31:45).

Nov 20, 20252h 15m

Ep 397Conor & Nigel Benn, Kyle Daukaus and Frank Smith in studio, David Otunga, Fatima Kline, Kamaru Usman doesn't deserve title shot

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by celebrating the anniversaries of Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua and Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez, two epic fights that took place on the same night in 2011 (02:30).UFC strawweight contender Fatima Kline makes her show debut on the heels of her victory over Angela Hill at UFC 322, breaking down the win, reflecting on being able to fight at Madison Square Garden as a native New Yorker, expressing her desire to face Tabatha Ricci, and more (10:29).Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith joins Ariel in-studio to discuss Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the risk Paul is taking, the pressure on Joshua to knock out Paul, doing business with Most Valuable Promotions, his war of words with Simon Jordan, TKO Boxing and their efforts to pass the Ali Revival Act, the aftermath of Conor Benn’s win over Chris Eubank Jr., what’s next for Benn, and more (39:38).Former WWE star David Otunga stops by to talk wrestling and legal topics, starting with Raja Jackson’s arrest for felony assault, then touching on the controversy surrounding Andrade’s non-complete clause and the restrictions within WWE contracts, his start in reality TV, and John Cena’s retirement tour (1:25:33).Kyle Daukaus is in-studio following his big UFC 322 win, discussing his journey back to the UFC after being cut, the incredible success he’s had since returning, his propensity for the D'Arce choke and his 'D'Arce Knight' nickname, wanting to fight Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, and more (2:01:34).Conor Benn is our final guest of the day, recapping his win over Chris Eubank Jr., giving his review of Eubank’s performance, explaining where their families’ rivalry now stands, and revealing who he wants to fight next, including mention of both Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios (2:49:51). Conor’s father, Nigel Benn, also jumps in to discuss the rivalry and what he wants next for Conor (3:13:14).The show ends with your Super Chats (3:24:02).

Nov 19, 20253h 56m

Ep 396Tony Khan FINALLY in studio, Valentina Shevchenko in studio, On The Nose, news & notes

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look at the first faceoff between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker and reaction to Joaquin Buckley’s message to Islam Makhachev (03:19).UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko joins Ariel in-studio to break down her big win against Zhang Weili at UFC 322, reflect on the early days of her career, discuss how she controls her emotions, respond to critics of her fighting style, accept Amanda Nunes’ challenge to fight at 125 pounds, react to talks of Ronda Rousey’s comeback, and more (15:17).AEW boss Tony Khan sits down with Ariel for a highly-anticipated interview, touching on AEW’s upcoming Full Gear show, the state of the company, their deal with HBO Max, WWE’s efforts to counter-program their shows, their television ratings, criticism from Eric Bischoff, the absence of some top AEW stars, whether he regrets how things played out with CM Punk, and more (1:15:17).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer your On The Nose questions, including mention of Dana White saying Francis Ngannou grabbed him by the shirt, Kai Kara-France being removed from the UFC rankings, dream fights for the White House card (2:36:50).Plus, your Super Chats (3:37:42).

Nov 18, 20253h 47m

Ep 395UFC 322 aftermath, Dillon Danis brawl, Jake vs. Joshua official, John Kavanagh & Cesar Gomezlince in studio, Bo Nickal, Benoit Saint-Denis, Ethyn Ewing

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Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC 322, including Islam Makhachev’s domination of Jack Della Maddalena, the legacy comparisons between Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who could be next for Makhachev, Dillon Danis’ brawl with the Dagestani fighters, and more (05:33).Benoit Saint-Denis joins fresh off his 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush, breaking down the quick finish, weighing in on Makhachev’s move to welterweight, giving his prediction for the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker fight, and more (1:00:35).Ethyn Ewing makes his debut following a big upset win over Malcolm Wellmaker, looking back at how the short-notice opportunity came together, having to make the weight, being called to compete at Madison Square Garden, what he wants to do next, and more (1:21:31).Bo Nickal returns to discuss his bounce-back win, how he set up the highlight-reel head kick, his placement on the UFC 322 card, his post-fight speech, when he plans to fight again, and more (1:44:12).SBG head coach John Kavanagh reunites with Ariel in-studio to discuss his new venture with Upper Sports Management, the latest on Conor McGregor, the state of the gym, and more. Then, USM’s founder and CEO Cesar Gomezlince joins the conversation to talk about Michael Morales’ massive UFC 322 win, making the case for Morales to get the next welterweight title shot, and more (2:05:17).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to react to the official announcement of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the impact on Joshua’s legacy and whether Paul should be concerned about his health (2:58:57).Old friend Ade Oladipo stops by to further discuss Paul vs. Joshua, whether Paul stands a chance, the reaction to the fight in the UK, Conor Benn getting revenge against Chris Eubank Jr., having no interest in the trilogy, Joseph Parker’s positive test, and more (3:34:45).

Nov 17, 20254h 52m

Ep 394UFC 322 Post-Fight Show: Islam Makhachev crushes Jack Della Maddalena, makes history

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Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev's dominant performance against Jack Della Maddalena, to capture UFC gold in a second weight class (01:24).After weighing in on whether the main and co-main events were "boring" (16:38), the crew discusses incredible knockouts by Michael Morales (30:39) and Carlos Prates (35:17), before circling back to Valentina Shevchenko's shutout against Zhang Weili (38:13).They recap the rest of the stacked card (45:44), then transition to the all-out brawl between Dillon Danis and some Dagestani fighters in the crowd (58:17)The show concludes with quick mention of Conor Benn's revenge against Chris Eubank Jr. (1:09:59) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:11:26).

Nov 16, 20251h 14m

Ep 393UFC 322 preview, Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm 10-year anniversary, more | The Craic

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Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.After reacting to the UFC 322 weigh-in results (4:14), the lads preview the stacked MSG card top to bottom (8:11).Shifting gears to boxing, the crew break down this weekend’s Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch and question if the hype is lacking (47:05).Up next, Jake Paul is back in the headlines, this time with Anthony Joshua floated as a potential opponent. Petesy, Chuck, and Ben assess Paul’s chances in that matchup (51:13).Today also marks the 10-year anniversary of Holly Holm’s historic knockout of Ronda Rousey, so the guys reflect on what it means a decade later (1:00:02).To close out the show, the trio give their UFC 322 picks (1:09:22), and answer your Super Chats (1:13:19).

Nov 14, 20251h 22m

Ep 392UFC 322 preview, Islam Makhachev chases Anderson Silva's record, Alex Pereira vs. Khamzat Chimaev?! | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back kick off the show with some news and notes, including Alex Pereira challenging Khamzat Chimaev to a grappling match and TKO's new partnership with Polymarket (07:04).Then, the conversation turns to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev potentially tying Anderson Silva's record for the longest winning streak in UFC history and the potential for Jack Della Maddalena to pull off the upset (19:29).After breaking down the stacked card (47:34), they make picks (1:34:27), deliver their P4P rankings of MMA grapplers (1:38:42), listen to your voicemails (1:49:39), and answer your Super Chats (2:25:52).

Nov 13, 20252h 32m

Ep 391UFC 322 preview, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua?! Jalin Turner, Big John McCarthy, Coach Tim Welch, Gareth A. Davies, On The Nose

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recognizing the anniversaries of UFC 1, UFC on FOX 1, UFC 205, and UFC 281, which all took place on Nov. 12 (03:38).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, with topics including criticism of Dana White, the relevance of 'UFC Embedded,' what happens after the studio cameras stop rolling, Thanksgiving dinner guests, and more (10:44).Jalin Turner joins to discuss his decision to return to MMA, how he landed on Edson Barboza as an opponent, overcoming mental hurdles ahead of the comeback, learning to embrace having his family at fights from Ian Machado Garry, and more (59:13).Coach Tim Welch gives his immediate reaction to reports of Jake Paul boxing Anthony Joshua, before getting into his breakdown of UFC 322, Sean O’Malleys next fight, his prediction for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 2, and more (1:28:07).'Big' John McCarthy talks about his return to refereeing, the state of officiating in MMA, how improvements can be made and implemented, his stances on recent refereeing controversies and the Ali Revival Act, and more (1:57:24).Gareth A. Davies is back to bounce around the boxing world and discuss the Paul vs. Joshua reports, the buzz for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, plus a special guest appearance by impressionist Al Foran (2:37:47).The crew rejoins Ariel to dive deeper on the Paul vs. Joshua report and answer a few more On The Nose questions, before turning to your Super Chats (2:58:36).

Nov 12, 20254h 15m

Ep 390Malcolm Wellmaker in studio Muhammad Mokaev, Chris Padilla, Is Dana White political?

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Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to discuss some news and notes, including the first faceoff between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, Adin Ross spending time with Makhachev, Khabib, and their team, and more (06:06).Muhammad Mokaev joins on the heels of his head-kick knockout at BRAVE CF 101, talking about the foot injury he suffered in the fight, his desire to return to the UFC and the potential path back, how he would do against UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, his recent communication with the UFC, wanting to face Sergio Pettis, being offered a fight against Patchy Mix, and more (33:23).Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla makes his debut on the show, breaking down his big win over Ismael Bonfim, including his reaction when Bonfim missed weight by five pounds, explaining his recent career turnaround, the story behind his viral post-fight interview where he pleaded for a performance bonus, his beef with Daniel Cormier’s commentary, and more (59:50).Ariel reacts to Dana White’s recent comments about being non-political, talks of Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria heating back up, and then answers your Super Chats (1:33:49).Malcolm Wellmaker joins Ariel in-studio to preview his UFC 322 bout, look back at his beginnings in construction, give insight into his relationship with the fans, break down the power in his right hook and his wrestling game, predict how long it will be before he’s fighting for the UFC title, express his desire to be the one to beat Merab Dvalishvili, and more (2:34:17).

Nov 11, 20253h 55m

Ep 389Chael Sonnen in studio, Leon Edwards, Claressa Shields, Josh Hokit, Jon Jones reaction, massive weekend recap

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Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Vegas 111, including Gabriel Bonfim’s stoppage of Randy Brown in the main event and Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla’s plea for a performance bonus (07:49), before quickly touching on this weekend’s boxing, including Vergil Ortiz’s big win and action from Misfits (24:27).Leon Edwards joins to preview his UFC 322 fight against Carlos Prates, speaking about Prates having him as his phone wallpaper, facing a striker for the first time since Nate Diaz, who he hopes to face after Saturday, his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry and Jorge Masvidal, and more (33:28).‘The Bad Guy’ himself, Chael Sonnen, is back in studio to talk about his future foray into politics, Josh Hokit’s promo paying homage to Chael, the UFC’s betting scandal and potential ramifications for the promotion, his criticism for Valentina Shevchenko and how her UFC 322 fight has been promoted, who he expects to headline the White House card, Jon Jones deserving to be in the UFC rankings, Ronda Rousey’s return, and more (1:00:51).Josh Hokit makes his debut on the show, breaking down his viral promos and reacting to Chael Sonnen’s appreciation for the promos, talking about his collegiate football and wrestling careers, his callout of Valter Walker, training with Jon Jones, his exit from the PFL, and more (2:09:20).Claressa Shields returns on the heels of her massive $8 million deal to discuss the stress of being a free agent, being close to signing with Most Valuable Promotions, potential fights against Mikaela Mayer, Shadasia Green, and Franchon Crews-Dezurn, moving on from the Laila Ali fight, wanting to win a third Olympic gold medal, and more (2:35:06).The show concludes with a few bits of news and notes, including Islam Makhachev’s welterweight physique, the buzz — or lack thereof— for UFC 322 and Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, Paddy Pimblett teasing a fight against Ilia Topuria, whether the UFC should revisit talks of Topuria vs. Makhachev, Jon Jones’ recent round of comments, and more (3:14:38).

Nov 10, 20254h 12m

Ep 388Netflix's Dana White gambling documentary, UFC betting scandal continues, more | The Craic

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The Craic is back! As always, Petesy Carroll is joined by regulars Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.They open the show with the UFC gambling scandal, beginning with the ironically timed announcement of Netflix’s upcoming documentary on Dana White’s own gambling exploits (0:22).The trio then react to further developments in the scandal, including unearthed comments by Isaac Dulgarian (15:00).Switching to boxing, Petesy gets Chuck and Ben’s take on the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis on Netflix, and whether Francis Ngannou would be a suitable replacement (40:55).Another heavyweight making waves is Jon Jones, following his recent podcast appearance where he called Tom Aspinall a quitter. The guys react, and talk what’s next for the UFC heavyweight division (57:00).To round out the show, they spotlight Ben Fowlkes’ new Uncrowned feature on Frank Shamrock and answer your Super Chats (1:03:03).

Nov 7, 20251h 18m

Ep 387UFC betting scandal, Jon Jones calls Tom Aspinall 'overrated,' Jake Paul's next fight | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back begin the show with some news and notes, including Reug Reug being forced to withdraw from ONE 173 due to a car accident (01:13), Claressa Shields signing a massive new promotional deal (02:58), and more.Next, The Boys break down Jon Jones' recent comments about Tom Aspinall being a "one-trick pony" and "overrated" (4:58), before digging deeper on the UFC's betting scandal and the potential impact to the MMA gambling ecosystem (17:59).After speculating on who Jake Paul will end up fighting next (46:20), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 111 (56:40), then close the show with their P4P rankings of fight siblings (1:17:19), voicemails (1:36:34), and Super Chats (2:20:06).

Nov 6, 20252h 37m

Ep 386Dana White reacts to UFC gambling controversy, Michael Chandler, Gable Steveson, Lou DiBella in studio, On The Nose, more

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC’s betting scandal, Ronda Rousey’s bitterness toward MMA, Most Valuable Promotions’ decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the Jake Paul fight, and more (06:14).Promoter Lou DiBella joins Ariel in-studio to discuss boxing news, including ‘Tank’ Davis’ latest controversy and Most Valuable Promotions’ position, not being in favor of three-minute rounds for women’s boxing, TKO’s involvement in the sport, his reaction to the Ali Revival Act, gambling in combat sports and suspicions of fight fixing, and more (58:25).Michael Chandler is back to talk about his major movie role in "Road House 2," his upcoming wrestling match against Chad Mendes for Real American Freestyle, still wanting to compete on the White House card and potentially sitting out until then, his confidence in fighting Conor McGregor, his reaction to Rousey’s stance on MMA fandom, and more (1:59:23).Gable Steveson, fresh off his knockout at DBX 4, is back to break down his budding MMA career, training with and learning from Jon Jones, his next fight, Jones’ potential meeting with Alex Pereira, and more (2:29:27).After some news and notes, Ariel wraps up with more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (2:49:00).

Nov 5, 20253h 37m

Ep 385New gambling allegations, Jake vs. Tank cancelled, Aljamain Sterling, Norma Dumont, coach Marc Montoya, PFL CEO John Martin in studio

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Ariel Helwani begins the show by reacting to the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, as well as Francis Ngannou’s emergence as Paul’s potential next fight (02:29).Norma Dumont joins on the heels of her victory over Ketlen Vieira to discuss the win, believing she’s earned a title shot, being willing to fight Julianna Peña, Ronda Ronda teasing a comeback, and more (14:37).New PFL CEO John Martin joins Ariel in-studio for an open conversation about his time as Turner CEO and his intersection with combat sports over the years, including conversations with Dana White, his perspective on the UFC’s control of combat sports, changes made to the PFL’s format once he took over as CEO, the release of Larissa Pacheco, developing homegrown stars like Dakota Ditcheva, the promotion’s partnership with ESPN, their upcoming media rights deal, and more (30:47).Aljamain Sterling returns to talk about his wedding, cornering Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320, his recent comments about Tom Aspinall and the aftermath of the eye-poke, the fan response to his take, whether he thinks the UFC gloves are an issue, his reaction to the UFC’s betting scandal, who he wants to fight next, and more (1:31:52).Coach Marc Montoya, Isaac Dulgarian’s trainer for UFC Vegas 110, joins to defend his own integrity and discuss the controversy surrounding Dulgarian’s fight due to suspicious betting activity, what he experienced on fight day, kicking Dulgarian off the team, his belief that Dulgarian will not fight again, and the success of some of his other athletes at the gym (2:06:02).Ariel closes the show with more discussion about the betting scandal, including UFC fighter accounts, and Super Chats (2:34:10).

Nov 4, 20253h 30m

Ep 384MASSIVE UFC betting controversy, more referee blunders, Mike Perry, Steve Garcia, Misfits co-founder Mams Taylor, more

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with commiserations for the Toronto Blue Jays and their valiant attempt in the World Series (01:41), before moving on to the controversy surrounding Isaac Dulgarian’s loss to Yadier del Valle and suspicious betting activity on the fight (15:29), and the bizarre ending of the fight between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ante Delija (44:45).Mike Perry joins to talk about his win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82, recovering from the damage he took in the fight, Frankie Edgar’s removal from the card, the latest Dirty Boxing show and Gable Steveson’s victory, wanting to return to the UFC for the White House card, calling out Nate Diaz, and more (1:00:26).Misfits co-founder Mams Taylor is back to discuss the promotion’s deal with Andrew Tate, how they landed on Chase DeMoor as the opponent, KSI’s reaction to Tate being named CEO, a potential KSI vs. Tate fight down the line, Dillon Danis and Tony Ferguson’s next fights, and more (1:35:20).Steve Garcia joins on the heels of his UFC main event win against David Onama, breaking down the fight, then addressing his pre-fight comments about Alexander Volkanovski, his criticisms of Movsar Evloev’s fighting style, his desire to be BMF champ, and his friendship with Charlie Kirk (2:04:10).Yahoo Sports Senior Sports Betting Analyst Ben Fawkes joins Ariel in-studio to dive further into the UFC’s betting scandal, including how the sportsbooks handled the situation, comparisons to recent events in other sports, and more (2:35:49).Ariel closes the show with some other news and notes, including Bo Nickal’s placement on the UFC 322 card, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis being on shaky ground and potential new opponents for Paul, Jon Jones' latest plea to fight at the White House, Ronda Rousey’s disdain for the MMA community, and more (3:12:54).

Nov 3, 20254h 36m

Ep 383What happens now at heavyweight? Ronda Rousey hates MMA, ‘Tank’ Davis' civil suit | The Craic

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The Craic returns with its dynamic trio: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes.Up first, a deep dive into the future of the UFC heavyweight division following the fallout from Ciryl Gane’s eye poke against Tom Aspinall (5:20).Two fighters looking to make their mark on the division are Jon Jones and Alex Pereira. The lads discuss the two MMA stars angling for a potential superfight (26:00).Pereira’s been putting in the work for that bout, but with an unexpected training partner. The crew breaks down the viral clip of him grappling with Mark Zuckerberg (34:00).Next, the trio reacts to Gervonta 'Tank' Davis’ latest legal troubles ahead of his upcoming Netflix boxing match with Jake Paul (36:09).Another controversial headline doing the rounds is Andrew Tate’s appointment as the new Misfits Boxing CEO. Petesy and the boys unpack what it means for the future of crossover fights (41:25).To close the show, the guys react to Ronda Rousey’s recent comments about MMA fans, a take that didn’t exactly land well with the community (55:08).

Oct 31, 20251h 8m

Ep 382Scariest MMA fighters ever, Jon Jones trolls Tom Aspinall, Uncrowned Films BTS with E. Casey Leydon | The Boys in the Back

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On this spooky edition of The Boys in the Back, the Boys reveal their costumes, before discussing Jon Jones' latest barb aimed at Tom Aspinall (07:36) and Joaquin Buckley's bizarre feud with Alex Pereira (11:20).After quickly previewing UFC Vegas 110 (14:06) and making picks (26:54), the Boys are joined by E. Casey Leydon (30:31), the newest addition to the team, about the launch of Uncrowned Films, his early days on the road with Ariel Helwani, and more.The Boys close the show with their P4P rankings of the scariest fighters in MMA history (56:30), your voicemails (1:18:33), and Super Chats (02:03:26).

Oct 30, 20252h 8m

Ep 381Devin Haney in studio, Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva faceoff, Matt Brown, Ludovit Klein, news and notes

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with some news and notes, before reeling off some of MMA’s best post-fight speeches, inspired by the anniversary of Nick Diaz’s callout of Georges St-Pierre after UFC 137 (03:05).Devin Haney joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Brian Norman Jr., address criticism of his ability to take a punch, discuss his rivalry with Ryan Garcia, other opponents he considered before landing on Norman, the current state of Top Rank, the Ali Reform Act, Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis, and more (33:23).UFC veteran Matt Brown is back, speaking his mind about recent regulatory meetings related to the Ali Reform Act, the UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement, penalties for fouls in MMA, Dana White’s reaction to the UFC 321 main event, TKO Boxing’s potential impact on that sport, fighters needing additional protections, and more (1:33:20).Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman join the show for a virtual faceoff, talking about how their upcoming boxing match came about, their mutual respect, whether Silva feels he needs revenge after their MMA fights, Weidman dealing with Silva’s different styles, Silva’s admiration for the sport of boxing, reconnecting after Weidman’s leg break, and Weidman being an underdog one more time (2:15:26).L’udovit Klein makes his show debut, talking about his incredible UFC 321 win, requiring surgery for the broken ankle he suffered during the fight, considering Arman Tsarukyan a ‘dream fight,’ expecting to be sidelined for several months due to the injury, representing Slovakia on the global stage, and more (2:55:01).Ariel wraps up with your Super Chats (3:11:53).

Oct 29, 20253h 38m

Ep 380Tom Aspinall & Conor McGregor updates, Charles Jourdain, Fabio Wardley, Quillan Salkilld, Dr. Brian Sutterer, On The Nose

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Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with first-timer Quillan Salkilld, fresh off his devastating knockout of Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 321, to talk about the aftermath of the knockout; being concerned for his opponent; planning to train with Jack Della Maddalena, who’s also from Perth; learning about MMA from playing the UFC video game; wanting to fight Renato Moicano, and more (05:26).Dr. Brian Sutterer is back to dive deeper into the conversation around Tom Aspinall’s eye, following the accidental poke he suffered at UFC 321, including the trauma itself, how it was handled by the doctors in the cage and at the hospital, and the timeline for recovery. He also touches on how bare-knuckle boxing compares to MMA in terms of injuries, the possibility of Ben Askren coming back to compete, and more (26:06).Charles Jourdain joins following his big win over Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver, talking about the Jean Silva loss motivating him to move to bantamweight, the impact of becoming a father, his younger brother Louis’ success on Contender Series, wanting to fight Marcus McGhee, his friendship with Aiemann Zahabi, how fouls should be handled in the cage, and more (59:35).WBO interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley stops by after his massive TKO against Joseph Parker, addressing the controversial stoppage, dealing with newfound fame, being confident about fighting Oleksandr Usyk next, whether the fight could headline Wembley Stadium, his respect for Parker, and more (1:32:22).Ariel brings in NewYorkRic and Petesy Carroll to answer your On The Nose questions, including more about the Aspinall eye poke, potential rule changes, the crew’s worst sport experiences, before closing the show with Super Chats (2:58:00).

Oct 28, 20253h 16m